Reinforced cap



June 5, 1956 F. K. LIPSCHUTZ ET AL 2,748,396

REINFORCED CAP Filed May 28, 1954 R 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 uvwszvro 23 3 FRANKK.L|PSCHUTZ SAMUEL ROSENBERG 24a BY 25 @1401 9/1 W Fig's ATTORNEY F. K.LIPSCHUTZ ET AL 2,748,396

June 5, 1956 REINFORCED CAP Filed May 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.8

Fig.9

INVENTORS lo FRANK K. LIPSCHUTZ a "J- SAMUEL ROSENBERG By Ma 2% ATTORNEYUnited States Patent O i REINFORCED CAP Lipschutz and Samuel Rosenberg,Louisville, Ky.

Application May 28, 1954, Serial No. 433,010

7 Claims. (Cl. 2-195) The present invention relates to a reinforced capof the type in use by the armed forces, and to the reinforcing structurethereof.

The construction of such caps comprises generally a pliable headband,united along the top to form a crest and front and rear prows. In onemodification, the headband is united directly to form a single crest,and in another modification the headband is united by a pleated gore toform a double crest. An ornamental covering band may be united to theheadband along the bottom edge, and a sweatband may be sewed to theinterior of the head band adjacent the bottom. When this type of cap isworn the headband is distended to receive the head and this ordinarilycauses the crest to sag and the prows to collapse or develop a break,thus destroying the neat trim appearance of the cap.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an overseas type ofcap which maintains a smoothly curved outline at the crest, and whichprevents a break or collapse developing at the prows of the cap when thecap is worn.

Another object is the provision of a reinforcement for an overseas capwhich preserves the overall trim appcarance of the cap, and which isheld in place by the sweat band, thus rendering the reinforcement easilyremovable and eliminating the need to sew or otherwise secure thereinforcement into the cap.

The invention will be described in detail in the following specificationtaken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating preferredembodiments by way of example, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of cap to which the inventionis to be applied;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of another form of caphaving the invention applied thereto;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cap shown in Figure 1 with partscut away to show the operation of the invention;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of the invention;

Figure 5 is an'end view of the prop shown in Figure 3 as viewed from theright;

Figure -6 is an elevational view of a further modification;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of another modification; Figure 8 is across sectional view of the cap showing a further'modification appliedthereto;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the prop illustrated in Figure'8; and

Figure 10 shows the cap worn with andwithout a prop. Referring to thedrawing, Figures 1 and 3, there is shown one type of cap comprising apliable headband 1 with a pleated gore 2 uniting the top edge of theheadband to" form crests 3 and 4 and front'and rear prows 5 and6. Anornamental band 7 extends around the out side of the cap, and asweatband 8 is provided around the inside of the cap as shown in Figure2. InFigure 2 We illustrate in cross section a type of cap made by ice 12 directly uniting the top edge of the headband to form a single crest3a. As the details of the seams, lining and other structure of the capsare not part of the present invention there is no attempt made to depictor describe them, except insofar as necessary to an understanding of theinvention.

When the cap is worn it is intended that the crests 3 and 4 (3a in Fig.2) be maintained erect in proper curvature, and the prow lines remainunbroken. However, referring to Figure 10 it will be seen that upondistending or opening the headband to place it on the head the roundingof the headband to conform to the outline of the head causes a break inthe front or rear prows, or both, with formation of protruding beaks 10and 11, and the pull of the headband at the top where the edges'areunited flattens the crest as shown. This appearance of the cap isundesirable. We have observed that a reinforcement solely of the crestof the cap will prevent collapse of 'the crest, but serves to accentuatethe front and rear beaks of the cap.

The construction by which this undesired deformation of the cap isavoided now will be described with relation to a single crest cap.Referring to Figure 2, we provide a prop in the form of a wire having achine portion 13 and bent at 15 to provide a leg 16. The prop isinserted into the cap with its end 17 at the top point 18 of the frontprow 5, and the end 19 of leg 16 in the sweatband S at the rear prow 6.The leg 16 may be substantially the height of the rear prow so that thebend 15 is positioned substantially at the top point 21 of the rearprow. The prop preferably is made of a springy wire and the chineportion is bowed to conform substantially to the crest line of the cap.Thus, the resiliency of the prop member maintains the end 17 at the toppoint 18 and the leg 16 at the rear prow, and holds the prop member inthe cap. However, if desired, the chine may be .preformed to the curveof the crest and the end 17 held at the point 18 in any suitable manner.No additional fastening means for the prop is required so that, the propis easily removed when the cap is to be cleaned or laundered, and isthen easily replaced. "When the headband is distended on the head of thewearer,'the collapse of the crest is prevented by the chine portion 13,and the formation of a beak or horn at the'rear prow is preventedbecause leg 16 prevents collapse of the prow. The provision of a leg atthe front prow is not necessary in some cases because there appears to"be less tension at the front prow of the cap when it is worn. Also, asthe ornamental band is of double thickness at the firont, this may alsohelp to support the front prow and prevent its collapse.

However, where desired, a modified prop may be provided to support boththe front and rear prows. As shown in Figure 4, the prop is bent at 15to provide the leg' 16, and is bent at 22 to provide a front leg 23,terminating at 24, the portion between the bends providing the chine13c. As the front prow of the cap is usually of lesser height than therear prow, the front leg 23'n'1ay be made correspondingly shorter thanthe rear leg. Also, it is preferred to have the legs 16, 23 extend indiverging relation to the chine portion so that when the ends of thelegs are pushed together in placing them in the sweatband of the cap thechine is bowed and its span or chord is shortened to conformsubstantially to the crest of the cap, as shown in dot and dash lines inFigure 4. v The construction shown in Figure 4 supports the singl crestand prevents a break occurring at both the front and rear prows, andthus in wearing the cap it is not necessary to carefully adjust the capto prevent its collapse at any point. This is of advantage because, thecap can be worn high on the head or low on the head as desired, withoutthe need to adjust the cap to prevent breaks in its contour.

It should be pointed out that when the prop shown in Figure 4 isinserted in the cap, it is the contraction of the ends 19, 24 which bowthe chine, and the bends 15, 22 need not lie snugly in the points 21, 18of the cap. In other words, there is no tensioning or strain of the'cloth at the peaks or prows of the cap. Because of the confluence ofcloth at these points of the cap there is enough stiffness in the capitself to maintain the points in proper position, as long as no break isallowed to occur in the crest or prow lines of the cap. t is notnecessary that the chine and legs tension the cloth of the cap, but theymerely provide a support to prevent tension in the cap from collapsingthe crest or prows.

In Figure 3 we show a modification designed for use with a double crestcap. This modification employs double wires, each comprising a chineportion 13a and a pair of legs 16 and 23". As shown the free ends of thelegs are fastened together by a lug 25 but they may be united in anyother suitable manner, or the entire double prop may be made from asingle continuous length of wire. In use, this prop is inserted in thecap with the lugs 25 on the ends 19 and 24a received in the sweatband atthe rear and front prows respectively and with a chine 13a in each crest3, 4 of the cap, the pleat 2 being received between the chines. When theheadband is distended in placing the cap on the head the tension of theheadband opens the gore and separates the crests somewhat at the middleand the chines separate as required to support the crests in separatedposition, so that the chines are each bowed in a vertical plane toconform to the respective crest lines and are bowed relativelyhorizontally to conform to the separation of the crest lines. At theprows little separation of the chines occurs. The legs prevent a breakor pucker at the prows so that the cap presents a neat trim appearancewhen worn, free of puckers or wrinkles, with the crest-s smoothlycurved, and the prows unbroken.

It should be pointed out that here too it is not necessary for the bends15a and 22a to fit snugly into the points 21 and 18 of the cap, nor isit necessary that the prop maintain the crest or prows under tensionwhen the prop is inserted into the cap. In wearing the cap the headbandconforms more or less to the circular contour of the head, and as thedistension of the headband is greatest at the middle the tendency is forthe crest to collapse at the middle, the gore opens to allow shifting ofthe crest to relieve the tension and avoid wrinkling, and the chinessupport the crests in any position they may assume. At the front andrear prows the tension in the headband will tend to collapse the prowlines to produce horns, but the legs provide supports along the heightof the prows and prevent their collapse. Consequently, the merger of thecircular form of the headband with the elongated crest occurssubstantially along lines radiating from the front and rear top points18, 21 as shown by the dot and dash representation and shaded lines inFigure 10.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 6, two separate prop membersare employed. One prop comprises a chine portion 13 having a leg 16 atone end, the other end of the chine being bent at 17, as previouslydescribed in connection with Figure 2, and the other prop comprises achine portion 13' having a leg 23' at one end, the other end being bentas above described, the bent end being indicated at 17'. In use with asingle crest cap, one prop is inserted in the cap with the end 17disposed at the front point 18 of the cap and the leg 16 at the rearprow 6, the end 19 being received in the sweatband as shown in Figure 2,and the other prop is inserted in the cap with the end 17 disposed atthe rear point 21 of the cap and the leg 23 at the front prow 5, the end24' being received in the sweatband. Thus, in applying this modification to the cap shown in Figure 2 (without a gore) -the chines13 13'lie along thecrest and each prop is held in position by the bowing ofits chine. However, in applying this modification to a gore type capshown in Figure 3, each chine will lie along its respective crest 3, 4,with the pleat 2 lying between the chines. This modification has theadvantages that it is somewhat easier to insert into the cap, and theends 17, 17 can lie exactly in the points of the cap, and has thedisadvantage that unless carefully made it may not keep the two crestlines of the cap in exact conformity.

In the modification shown in Figure 7, the wire is bent substantially ata right angle at its ends to provide a chine portion 13d and end-s 16aand 23a which are bent or kinked outwardly at 16b and 23b, so that thelegs 16, 23 are formed of two angularly disposed portions. This is shownin dot and dash lines. When the legs are contracted in the cap, as shownin full lines, acute bends 15 and 22 are formed which better fill thepoints 21, 18 of the cap. Here also it should be understood that it isthe contraction of the ends 19 and 24 which bows the chine, and that thechine does not necessarily apply tension to the crest, nor do the bends15, 22 necessarily fit snugly into the corners 21, 18 of the cap whenthe prop is assembled into the cap. Thus, the chine 13d can be madeshorter than the curved crest line, if desired, without producing asubstantial difference in the shape or contour of the cap when worn.This modification is applicable to the cap shown in Figure 3 by usingduplicate props, preferably secured together at the free ends of theirrespective pairs of legs.

In the modification shown in Figures 8 and 9, the legs 16c and 230 haveupright prongs 31 and 32 respectively attached at the ends 1% and 24b.These prongs are substantially the height of the prows of the cap andmay terminate in beaks 33, 34 at their upper ends. Here also, when thelegs 16c, 230 are contracted to fit into the headband of the cap thechine 13b is bowed as shown in Figure 8. The chine portion may be madeconsiderably shorter than the crest line of the cap, and the beaks 33,34 are free to enter the points 21, 18 of the cap where they are held bythe resiliency of the prongs 31, 32. This construction has the advantagethat a single prop may be made to fit a group of cap sizes by making thechine 13b short enough to fit into the smallest cap of the group, andthe positioning of prongs 31, 32 supports the points of the cap and theprows. In this modification the prongs 31, 32 may apply tension at thepoints 21, 18 and the prongs 31, 32 can be adjusted as desired to changeor avoid tension without afiecting the curvature of the chine.

It will be understood that while we have shown the prop member held inthe cap in the sweatband, the prop may be removably anchored in the capin any other desired manner, or it may be permanently inserted in thecap in any suitable way.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a cap construction of the overseas type comprising side panels ofpliable material having arcuate upper edges, said side panels beingunited at their upper edges to form a curved crest and being united attheir front and rear edges to form front and rear prows, the combinationof a prop member of spring material, said prop member consisting of amiddle chine portion and legs depending from the opposite ends of saidchine portion, said chine portion being of a length at least as long assaid crest, said legs being in a common plane and normally divergingoutwardly and downwardly from said chine portion and of a lengthconforming substantially to the height of said prows, said chine portionbeing disposed adjacent said crest, and said prows engaging andcompressing said opposed legs to bow said chine portion into tensioningengagement with said crest.

2. A combination, as defined in claim 1, including a second prop memberidentical with said first-named prop member and coextensive therewith,and means connecting the distal ends of said prop members to each other.

an, as.

5. A prop member of the character described made of 10 spring materialand consisting of a middle chine portion and divergent supportingelements depending outwardly from the opposite ends of said chineportion, each of said supporting elements including a bent portionthereof which extends at substantially a right angle to said chine l5portion when said chine portion is in unstressed condition.

6. A prop member, as defined in claim 5, wherein said bent portiondefines the juncture between said chine portion and said supportingelement.

7. A prop member, as defined in claim 5, wherein said 5 bent portiondefines the distal end of said supporting element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,341,679 Rosemire June 1, 1920 2,038,828 Conley Apr. 28, 1936 FOREIGNPATENTS 5,333 Great Britain Mar. 11, 1899

